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One of the next eleven people walking out of the grocery store has stolen something. And it’s most likely meat, infant formula, or razors.

Shoplifting at grocery stores is pervasive. Thieves get away with more than $35 million worth of goods each day, according to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention. And they aren’t deterred by surveillance cameras, security guards, or anti-theft packaging.

Nearly all shoplifting statistics are hard to verify since these figures only track cases that make their way through the court system. Young thieves are less likely to be punished or reported. First-time offenders are typically let off with a warning. Some profilers claim shoplifters age out by age 25, while others say grey-haired five-fingered thieves are just as common as teen thieves. And retailers adhere to different reasons to prosecute.

Still, shoplifting at the grocery store provides fascinating insight into the criminal mind in relation to commonplace activities. Everyone visits grocery stores. People shop for groceries an average of six times per month, spending $62.84 per visit, according to Click IQ. And it turns out that nearly everyone steals from them. It’s all a matter of semantics. “There’s an acceptable level of dishonesty in society,” says Barbara Staib of the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention. “It’s okay to steal, but just not too much. Most shoppers think it’s okay to eat grapes. They think it’s a free sample. But do you see a sign saying you can eat grapes? No. It’s stealing.”

Shoplifting is primarily impulsive. Seven in 10 shoplifters don’t plan their heists in advance, says Staib. There are certainly organized professionals, but most shrinkage comes from regular individuals. “Most theft is greed, not need,” says Dr. Read Hayes of the Loss Prevention Research Council. “They certainly don’t need the steak, but they talk themselves into self-justifying the behavior. It’s a big corporation; they charge too much; everyone does it.”

There’s no “right” way to steal from grocery stores. Some purchase items while leaving a few products under the cart. Others steal through self-check out registers by ringing up lower-priced items. And despite the obvious potential for opportunity, shoplifting has not increased with the installation of self-check out registers, says loss prevention experts.

While women and men are equally as likely to steal, women are more likely to switch price tags, and to purchase products while stealing other items during the same transaction. “Women might buy the basics and steal something like hair color that isn’t on their budget,” says Hayes. Men, by comparison, just walk out without bothering to create a possible excuse.

There are a few more inventive tactics that are increasingly becoming popular among thieves, such as constructing a rubber band and paper clip hook that sucks up products under the sleeve. Another tip involves returning to the store with a receipt to say they didn’t receive a product in order to get a free replacement.

Grocery stores, in general, have seen a sharp spike in theft as they expand their product offerings beyond food and beverage categories. Price and value often dictate hot theft items, with multiple grocers saying the hottest theft items right now include Tide detergent, Gillette razors, infant formula, electronics, batteries, fragrance, and over-the-counter drugs, particularly Prilosec and Abreva. Meat remains the most attractive category for shrinkage. “It's no surprise we've been witnessing a steady increase in theft of meat at retail for the last several years,” says Heather Garlich of the Food Marketing Institute. “From anecdotal discussions with our food retail and wholesale members, meat and health and beauty aids, are indeed the highest ranked products for ‘shrink.’”

Grocers face a conundrum when it comes to shoplifters. On one hand, they carry high-priced items that they want to protect. At the same time, the harder it is to steal, the harder it is for real customers to get it. “Retailers found that when they put things like infant formula behind customer service, it reduced theft, but it also reduced sales,” says Jack Trlica of Loss Prevention magazine. “It’s a balancing act to protect the item and not negatively affect sales.”

Grocers are also loathe to discuss their prevention tactics since they typically serve as a learning tool for wannabe thieves. “Social media has certainly made it easier to dispose of stolen items. You can go to YouTube or many online forums to learn how to steal,” says Hayes. Disgruntled employees join forums to divulge corporate secrets and experienced thieves share their tricks-of-the-trade. Still, rumors abound over the Internet. One common misconception found online is that grocers will never prosecute those who consume products in their stores. Grocers claim otherwise.

Grocers are also turning to technology to deter thieves. Several chains are installing video analytical software tied to surveillance cameras that monitor shopper behavior, says Trlica. “If someone is standing in a certain area a few seconds longer than usual it will call attention them. Of course it could be that they are stealing or maybe just taking a longer time to find products.” Others are exploring anti-theft packaging that can be activated only after purchase.

Ultimately, grocers are playing a numbers game with shoplifters they can’t win, says Staib. “The top deterrent is the certainty of punishment. If they know that nothing’s going to happen, they are going to do it,” she says. Another complication is that retailers are increasingly discovering that they won’t receive support from law enforcement, she says. Local police departments don’t have the manpower to arrest a 14-year-old for stealing a $20 package of Sirloin steak. And at least one city has officially made shoplifting a non-priority. The police department in Dallas, Texas now refuses to prosecute theft under $50. “What message does that send?” asks Staib. “That anything under $50 is fair game? It’s not fair to retailers to let them just get away. It’s a disturbing reality.”